Towel cabinet



TOWEL IUABINET' Filed Feb. 25. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 RN s www mmfm .MT Gfwy ffy Sept' 20 1927 G. A. sTElNER ET Al- TOWEL CABINET Filed Feb. 25, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fnl/en for GEORGEAJTE/NEH GoTTFR/D 01.50A/

- TTOQNEYJ Sept. 2o, 1927. 1,643,095

G. A. STEINER' ET AL TOWEL CABINET Filed Feb. 25. 1926 3 `Sheets-Sheet 5 GOTT/mo Omo/v TTQRNEYS lll Patented Sept. 20, 1927..

, UNITED srAT-Es PAT `GEORG-1i'. A.' STElNER, OF SALT LAKE CITY` ITTAH, AND GOTTFRID OLASON, OF l'tII'bl'lNl'E- MINNESOTA, ASSIGNORS TO STEINER SALES COMPANY, `0F SALT LAKE ArQLIs, CITY, UTAH, A

CORPORATION OF UTAH.

} `1,643,095 ENT OFFICE.,

p TOWEL ABINET.

Application led February 23, 1926.. Serial No. 89,97LREISSUE The towel cabinets such as are used in the toilet rooms of oiiice buildings, hotels, business houses and factories, and public buildings, of Various kinds, are supplied with a clean towel or loaded, the expression generally used by those in the business, by the janitor or person in charge'of the toilet or washroomyor in some instances rby the dellivery man of the laundry. These persons usually are very busy. the' time for their work is limited, and objection is made to the loading or fillingof oneof these `cabinets with a clean towel after the removal of the vsoiled one,'unless such filling operation can be performed with a minimum expenditure of time and labor. These individuals object. particularly if the 'structure of the cabinet is such that diliiculty is experienced in threading or weaving the web of the clean towel through or around the feed rolls', preparatory 'to making the cabinet effective for the delivery of a section of cle-an towel to the user. rlhe primary object of our present invention is to provide a cabinet of such construction that it will be easier for the attendant to fillor load the cabinet than it generally is in cabinets of this kind as heretofore con-k structed, and there is practically no chance of making an error in the work.A

` A further object is to simplify thefstructure of the device and thereby reduce the original cost of manufacture and eliminate as 4much as possible the danger of breakage and the necessity of repairs.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed description.

ln the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure l is a vertical sectionalh view through a towel cabinet embodying our invention showing the positio of the clean towel roll when it is first d posited or inserted into, the cabinet;

Figure 2 is a similar View showing the feed rolls in their separated position and Vindicating in dotted lines the position assumed by the-hands of the attendant in filling or loading the cabinet;

Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 showing the cabinet filled or loaded and ready for use;

Figure 4 is a front view of the cabinet partially in section showing the manner of mounting the feed rolls therein;

Figure 5 is a detail sectional View on the line 5 5 of Figure 4t showing the measurlng device in its normal position; v

F lgure 6 is a View corresponding to Figure 5 showing the measuring device tripped orpreleased to allow a revolution of the feed 1'0 l; i

Figure '7 is a -sectional view on the line 7 7 of Figure l.

lin the drawings, 2 represents the side walls of the cabinet, Sqthe top and 4 the upperportion of the rear wall. 5 is a trough-like receptacle in the lower portion of the cabinet having a comparatively high rear wall and a lower front wall and adapted to receive a roll or fold of clean towelmg 6 which rests upon the bottom of the trough, the forward wall of thev trough being preferably in the rear slightly of the forward` ample space is provided between this wall and the door 5 of the cabinet, through which space the web of clean towel may hang downwardly below the kcabinet in position to be grasped conveniently by the user. Evidently, when a person grasps this depending end and pulls thereon, the clean web of towel will be unwound the length of each delivery depending upon the feed control device as will hereinafter appear. This loading of the cabinet with the roll of clean towel or placing it inthe trough, so called, constitutes the first step in the operation of filling* the cabinet after the door is openedl and its interior exposed. 7 represents plates. having a rear connection 8 between them and approximately triangular in form and constitute va shield member for the clean towel supply, this member being pivotedat 9 to the side walls of the cabinet and adapted to swing forwardly through the open front of the cabinet when-the door is opened. These plates may the side walls of the cabinet and adapted to be pressed dutwardly into recesses 12 in said side walls bythe fingers of the operai tor after he opens the door and preliminary to the loading or filling operation, the clean towel roll of course being first deposited in its support. lWhen these spring snaps are pressed outwardly, the plates 7 may swing forwardly through the open door of the cabinet as indicated by full lines in Figure 2. rThe lplates are preferably connected by a bridge 13 which is secured at its ends to the plates and holds them rigidly in parallel relation. A feed roll' 14 is mounted in the upper portion of said plates and a gear 'wheel 15 having wedge-faced teeth 16 is secured to the axis of said roll to revolve therewith. Preferably, a stub 17 is mounted on one end of the roll and projects through the adjacent plate 7 and through a curved slot 18 provided in the side wall of the cabinet and on this stud the hub of the gear 15 is secured, The opposite end of the roll has merely a short hearing in the adjacent plate on that side and when, therefore, the sring snaps are released the geared roll with 'the plates may tip forwardly out of the cabinet to the position indicated by full lines in Figure 2. The gear 15 is preferably arranged within a recess 19 in the side wall of the casing and is adaptedto mesh with a similar gear 20 on a feed roll 21 that is mounted in bearings inthe side walls of the cabinet above and in parallel relation with the feed roll 14.

lVhen the cabinet is closed, these rolls will be, intergeared so that they will have the same surface or peripheral speed, being of the same diameter. the wedge-face of the gear teeth allowing the intermeshing ofthe gears whenever .they are brought together after the loading of the cabinet and the return vof the movable feed roll to its normal feeding position. Backward movement of the gears is prevented by afdog 22 mounted to engage the teeth of the gears 20. A tension roll 23 is mounted between the plates 13 adjacent the edges 10 thereof and when the plates 7 are released and allowed to tilt forward to the position indicated in Figure '2, the attendant will take the loose end of the web of clean towel and pass it up over, and around the roughened surface of the feed roll 14. the roll 23 serving to hold the web downwardly and smooth and straighten it as it approaches the feed roll. The attendant having withdrawn the desired amount of towel web from the roll will pass the loose end up in the rear of the clean roll, holding it in the hand as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2. Then the other hand will be thrust into the space between the upper portion of the plates 13 and the feed roll 21, this space being suiliciently wide and roomy to allow the attendant to easily thrust his hand therein and grasp the loose end of the clean towel web.

The upper portion of the side walls of the cabinet has grooves 24 therein adapted to receive a spindle or tube forming a takeup roll 25 that is thrust into the forward ends of the grooves and allowed to drop by gravity in the vertical portion thereof into con tact with the roughenedv surface of the feed roll 21. The attendant having threaded the web of clean towel up through the passage at the rear of the cabinet will wrap thev loose end of the web around the spindle 25 and'preferably a tension roll 26 is provided adjacent the roll 21 and near the edge of a horizontal wall 27 to serve as a guidiir means for the soiled towel and smooth and straighten it preparatory to its being wound on the stick or spindle 25. The upper edge of the wall 8 is preferably rounded as shown in Figure 1 and is slightly in the rear of the roll 26 so that it serves as a guiding and smoothing means for the towel web when the cabinet is closed. This wall also prevents4 any possibility of the soiled towel web coming in contact with the clean web and in fecting or contaminating it in any way. rlhe clean roll and thel clean web are at all times positively prevented from contact with the soiled web.

Tn a device of this kind, it is desirable to provide a measuring device or a means by which the operation of the cabinet can positively be checked when a predetermined length of clean towel has been delivered. The person using a cabinet of this kind is usually in a hurry and while willing to make a single manual movement to release t-he cabinet with one hand and pull out the clean web of towel with the other, is unwilling to do any more than that. and ronsequently in this device we provide a feed regulating mechanism which may be released with one hand and then in its subsequent operation of permitting feed of -he web and checking its feed, when a predetermined length has been delivered, will be automatic. This device corresponds substan tially to the feed control mechanism shown in the application of Gottfrid Olson. Serial #76,528, filed December 19. 1925, and we do not make claim to the same herein except in connection with specific features of this cabinet not shown in the Olson application referred to.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, 28 represents a housing including the end of the feed roll 21. A plate 29 is secured to the end of the roll and is provided with a lug 30 projecting outwardly from its periphery and a pin 31. A lever 32 is pivoted at 33 and projects outwardly through a slot 34: in the wall of the housing and has a. finger piece 35. This lever is provided with arms 36 and 37. The arm 3G projects inwardly into the path of the lug 30 as the roll is revolved and normally when the lever stands in the position as shown in Figurel 5, this inwardl projecting end of the lever 36 will standy across the path of the lug 30 and positively prevent revolution of the feed rolls in the direction of the arrows of Figures and 6. As soon, however, as the user of the towel forces the lever 32 down to the position indicated by full lines in AFigure 6, the lever 36 will be disengaged from the lug and will sta-nd clear of this lug as shown clearly in Figure 6, and there# upon revolution of the roll is permitted, the lug 30 passing the end of the arm 37 without disturbing it from its raised position. This arm is provided with a beveled face 37 which, when the lever 32 is depressed, is moved to a point in the path of the pin 3l so that when the pin strikes this beveled face 37, it will return the lever 32 ,to its normal raised position and .swing the arm 36 inwardly into the path of the lug 30 before the lug reaches a point opposite the end of the arm and thereupon the revolution of the rolls will be positively checked.

The length of clean towel delivered will depend upon the diameter of the feed rolls, provision being here made, preferably, for a complete revolution of the rolls. The user can of course if he wishes depress the lever 32 a second time and deliver another length of clean towel, but generally one feed of the towel is suiicient for all purposes and as this clean web is fed downwardly between the door and the roll ofolean towel it is positively prevented from coming in contact with the soiled web that is passing upwardly at the back of the cabinet and hence infection of the clean web from the soiled portion is impossible. It will be understood of course thatas soon as the attendant has threaded the web of towel over the lower feed roll and wrapped itA around the spindle of the soiled towel roll, he will raise the plates 13 and the lower feed roll to the position indicated by full lines in Figure 3 and thereupon may close the door and the cabinet will be ready for use. Such usemay continue until the 'roll of clean towel is exhausted. l

We claim as our invention:

1. A towelcabinet having a support therein for a towel supply, a soiled towel takeup roll around which the web of soiled towel is wound, a. feed roll therefor, a second feed roll normally intergeared with said first-named feed roll to have substantially the same peripheral speed and receive the web of .clean towel for delivery downwardly to ythe user, a support for said second feed roll movably mounted whereby said second feed roll is adapted to be moved out` of gear engagement with said firstnamed roll to provide a space between them through which the hand of the operator may be inserted to grasp the loose end of the toiyel web and deliver it to said takeup ro 2. A towel cabinet having a support for a towel supply of clean towel therein, .a takeup roll adapted to recei-ve the web of soiled towel, a feed roll for contact with the web of soiled towel, a second feed roll having a gear connection with said firstnamed roll for simultaneous movement and over which second feed roll the web of clean -towel is passed for delivery downwardly to the user, said feed rolls being movably mounted whereby one of said rolls is adapted for movement to break the gearconnection between said rolls for'separation to provide sufficient space between them for the insertion of the operators hand to reach the loose end of the web of towel at the rear of the cabinet and deliver it to said takeup roll.

3. A towel cabinet having a support for a towel supply of clean towel therein, a takeup roll for the soiled towel, a feed roll adapted to operate said takeup roll to wind the soiled towel thereon, a shield member above the clean towel'` a feed roll having a driving connection with said takeup feed roll and pivoted in said shield member, means for permitting said shield and said second feed roll to have an outward movement to disengage said feed rolls one from the other, the space so formed between said feed rolls allowing the convenient insertion of the hand to grasp the loose end of the towel wrp and draw it upwardly to lthe takeup ro 4. A towel cabinet having a support for a clean towel supply therein, a'solled towel takeup roll, a feed roll adapted to engage the web of soiled towel, and wind it on said takeup roll, a shield mounted above said clean towel, means tilt forwardly, by said, shield and having a driving connection with said first-named feed roll and over which the'web of clean towel is extended to depend therefrom below the cabinet, said shield when tilted allowing the separation of said feed rolls and providing an opening between them through which the hand of the operator may be inserted to grasp the loose end of the towel web for delivery to the takeup roll.

5. A towel cabinet having a supportfor a supply of clean towel, a takeup roll whereon the web of soiled towel is wound, a feed roll for said takeup roll, a second feed roll Yhaving a driving connection with said 'firstnamed roll and over which the web of clean .towel is passed for delivery downward to the user, a carrier for said second feed roll, and means for knormally holding it in its raised position, means permitting said carrier when released to tilt-and allow separation of 'said feed rolls to provide room'between them for the insertion of the hand.

6. A towel cabinet having a sup ort for asupply of clean towel, a takeup ro Wherepermitting said shield to a second feed roll supported A on the web of soiled towel is wound, a feed roll for said` talieup roll. a second feed roll having` a driving connection with said f1rst named roll and over which the web of clean towel is passed for delivery dovv'nwardly to the user, a carrier for said second feed roll, and means for normally holding it in its raised position, means permitting said carrier when released to tilt and allow separation of said feed rolls to provide room between them for the insertion of the hand, .said carrier having a rear wall over which the web of towel slides and is smoothed in its movement to said takeup roll.

7. towel cabinet having a support for a supply of clean towel, a takeup roll for the soiled towel and a feed roll therefor, a shield pivotcd at its lower port-ion and normally locked and adapted to tilt forwardly when released, said shield comprising side and rear walls, a second feed roll mounted in said side walls and intergeared with said first-named roll for simultaneous operation and over which second feed roll the web of clean towel passes and thence downward to the user, means permitting said shield when released to tilt forwardly-and allow the separation of said rolls to ;1-i'ovide a space for the operators hand between them for drawing the loose end of the. towel web upwardly to said takeup roll.

8. A towel cabinet adapted to receive a supply of clean towel, a takeup roll and a feed roll therefor. a second feed roll intergeared with said first-named roll, the wall of said cabinet having a slot therein to receive the spindle of said second feed roll, a support for said second feed'roll with means permitting it to move outwardly and allow the separation of said feed rolls one from the other, the spindle of said second feed roll moving in said slot. and .providing a. gap or opening between said feed rolls through which the hand of the ope ator may be inserted for the purpose specified.

9. A towel cabinet adapted to contain a supply' of clean towel, a takeup roll for the soiled towel, and a feed roll therefor, a second feed roll intergeared to said firstnamed feed roll, a tilting carrier for said secondnamed feed roll with means permitting it to move forwardly to a point. outside of the cabinet when the cabinet door is opened. stops adapted to be released by the attendant and normally holding said tilting car rier in its raised position but permittng it to drop forwardly by gravity when released, and said carrier when released providing ample space between said feed rolls for the insertion of the operators hand between them for drawing the loose end of the towel web upwardly to said takeup roll 10. A towel cabinet adapted to contain a supply of clean towel therein, a solid towel takeup roll, a feed roll adapted to engage the web of soiled towel and wind it on said takeup roll, a guard comprising side plates and a rear wallpivotally supported above the clean towel and below said talteup feed roll, suitable stops for normallyv holding said guard in its raised position. and in contact with the loose web of towel, said guard being adapted when released to swing outwardly to a position outside of the cabinet, a second feed roll mounted in said guard and having a driving connection with said fiist',-1ia1i1edy feed roll and over which second feed roll the web of clean towel is passed and directed'downwardly below the cabinet to a point where it can be reached by the user, the pull of the user on the clean towel operating said second feed roll .and through it said first-named feed roll and said talreup roll, the separation of said feed rolls allowing suliicient space between them to permit the insertion of one hand to grasp the loose web of towel interposed in the space between the clean towel and the. rear of the cabinet.

l1. A towel cabinet adapted to receive a supply of clean towel, a feed roll over which the web of clean towel passes downwardly to the user, a talteup roll and a feed roll therefor geared to said first-named feed roll to be driven thereby` the loose end of the towel web being carried upwardly in the rear of the clean towel to said takeup roll, a movable shield for the clean towel between which guard and the rear of the cabinet the web of towel is stretched. and means permitting said first-named feed roll to be moved to a point outside the towel cabinet', for convenience in placing the. web of clean towel thereon.

12. A towel cabinet adapted to receive a supply of clean towel, a feed roll over which the web of clean towel passes downwardly to the user, a takeup roll and a feed roll therefor geared to said first named feed roll to be driven thereby, the loose end of the towel web being carried upwardly in the rear of the clean towel to said talreup roll, a movable shield for the clean towel between which guard and the rear of the cabinet the web of towel is stretched, and means permitting said lirst-named feed roll to be moved to a point out of driving connection with said takeup feed roll to allow convenient placing of the towel web on said firstnamed roll.

In witness whereof. we have hereunto set our hands this 19th day of February 1926.

GEORGE A. STEINER. GOTTFRID OLSON- CIK 

